by Ira Tabankin
“Yes, sir. Will do.”
The TFM officers follow the map to the shelter’s battle scared front door. One of the lieutenants looks at the door. He runs his hand over the door, feeling the pockmarks from bullets and shrapnel striking it. He looks at the edge of the door; he pulls a small piece of wood from the seam. He shakes his head wondering where the wood came from. He turns to face Major Walker,
“Sir, do we knock, I don’t see a doorbell.”
“Don’t worry, they know we’re here. They’ve been watching us for a while. They’ll open the door when they’re satisfied we’re alone.”
“Sir, if you say so.”
“It’s what I would do.”
A moment later the front door slides up. The three men enter the portal to be met by the front door closing behind them. Looking ahead, they’re standing in front of another door. Ron says.
“I expected this. The double door allows them to trap any invaders between the doors. Don’t panic, they’ll open the door in a minute.”
The TFM entry team hears a voice coming from a hidden speaker.
“Hello TFM. We’d like to welcome you. You’re now inside the first portal. The door in front of you is going to open, when it does you’ll find a third door. Don’t be worried. We only have three doors. Major, you’re correct. It’s so we can trap attackers in between the doors if someone were to figure a way past the front or second door.”
Ron nods replying.
“Thank you for the heads up.”
The second door opens, showing them the third door, they notice the third portal is larger than the first two. Ron nods his understanding.
“In case someone manages to get past their first two doors, they’ll have to get past the third, the larger space is I’m betting because there are hidden weapons in this room which would kill anyone trying to open the door.”
“Sir, how the hell does anyone enter the shelter? I don’t see a keyhole or keypad.”
“Good question. I don’t have any idea.”
The three enter the last portal. The second door closes, there’s a long thirty-second pause before the third door slides up. Standing in front of them are four armed men.”
“Hello, I’m John, the shelter’s security officer. Welcome. Usually, Jay, our leader, or his second in command Tony would meet you. Both have been wounded. They'll meet with you in the main conference room.”
“John, thank you, name’s Ron. I’m a Major in the TFM.”
“I see you use the same rank insignias as the US Military.”
“Yes, we do. It makes everything easier.”
John smiles holding out his right hand in a warm welcome to the shelter.
Ron shakes John’s hand, they nod to each other. John leads them to the shelter’s main conference room. Entering the room, Ron is amazed at the smell of freshly baked cakes and cookies. He sees two pots of coffee sitting on the side bar with sugar packets and small creamer containers.
“Is that fresh coffee?”
Tony smiles, he points to the pots with his good arm, help yourselves.
“I’m Tony, the shelter’s second in command. The founder and owner of the shelter will be here in a minute or two. He asks that you make yourselves comfortable while you wait for him. He apologizes for being late. He is in the process of being released from our hospital.”
“Tony, thank you. We’re happy to meet you. Thank you for the fresh coffee. It’s a very rare treat.”
“We’re glad you like it. Let me say a couple of words about Jay, he is recovering and is weak.”
Ron asks with a concerned look on his face.
“Is he alright?”
A new voice responds,
“Yes, I am. Ron, I’m Jay, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Jay enters using a cane to help stabilize and balance him. He’s wearing a long sleeve shirt to cover the bandages from the just removed IVs.
“Jay, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thanks, standing behind me is Staff Sergeant Johnson, you responded to his call for help.”
“Sergeant, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m happy we were able to provide you with assistance in terminating your pest infestation. We were on our way to Memphis where a large battle is taking place between various militias and the Cartel.”
“I know of this battle, my Captain and his troops are there too. He dispatched my platoon to head back here when we lost contact with the shelter. Do you have any information on the battle? I’m hoping our people are OK.”
“Sergeant, we heard over the militia’s radio network there was a huge battle raging along the west bank of the Mississippi. The Cartel is said to have thousands of men fighting us. They hold the west bank; we hold the east. The Mississippi River separates us.”
“Thousands?”
“That’s the information I have. General Arthur placed an urgent call for all available able-bodied armed militias to join the battle. We were on our way to join the battle when we heard your broadcast.”
Jay smiles and nods. “We thank you for stopping by and removing our pests. We seem to attract more pests than normal.”
“It’s the farm. Food is scarce. Anyone near you will find out about your farm and assume there is food here. The farm is the lure that is attracting your armed pests. This time, we were in a position to help you, next time you may be on your own.”
Jay nods, “We’re used to being on our own. You may have seen how our defenses usually attrit the shit out of the pests. This time, there were too many of them. We were attacked by two groups, each outnumbered us. How can we pay you for your kindness? Do you need supplies?”
“If you twist my arm, I’d accept some real coffee. With most of the international trade stopped, coffee is very hard to come by. What is available, is very expensive.”
“I can take care of that. I anticipated there would be many shortages.”
“Jay, if it’s not too rude, how did you decide to build a shelter under your crops?”
“It all started with us winning the lottery.”
“Are you serious?”
“I am.”
Chapter 7
Captain Black takes the microphone from the radio operator, this is US Army Captain Black calling US Marine General, retired Arthur.”
“Hello Captain, thank you for returning my call. I think it would be a good idea for us to meet face to face.”
“Sir, I agree, however, I don’t know where your headquarters is located.”
“Captain, that’s not a problem, I know precisely where you’re located. I'll come to you.”
“Sir?”
“I’ll pop red smoke when I’m 500 meters out.”
“Agreed.”
The First Lieutenant looks at the Captain,
“Sir, how does he know where we are?”
“I bet he’s had people watching us for a while.”
“Is it safe allowing him to join us?”
“Do we have a choice? My gut tells me General Arthur is very close. We should be careful around him; he is, after all, a Marine. They’re used to taking any equipment not nailed down. If it is nailed, it just takes them a little longer to borrow it. Don’t tempt him or his people by showing them anything we have, they might want. They’re used to having to make do with older equipment, and any equipment they can scrounge.”
“Sir, what equipment would that be?”
“Everything we have.”
“Sir, should I set THREATCON Delta?”
“No, it’s not that bad, set condition THREATCON CHARLIE.”
“Yes, sir. Set condition THREATCON CHARLIE. Sir, red smoke to our east.”
“Just as I thought. The General was already very close to us when he contacted us. LT, prepare to receive guests.”
“Yes, sir.”
A new voice is heard at the guard station leading into the Army’s camp. “Permission to enter camp?”
Captain Black smiles responding,
“Gen
eral, permission granted. Welcome.”
Five people, three men and two women wearing a combination of different camouflage, their rifles strapped to their backs, approach the camp their hands are raised to show they’re not a threat. “Captain?”
“General Arthur, I presume?”
“Here Captain.” Says an elder man, wearing tan camo, two stars, and a Confederate Battle Flag patch on his right arm, walking behind his escort.
“General, welcome. Could I get you and your people something to drink?”
“Thank you, water would be fine.”
“I have a command tent we can meet in. I have a small conference table set up with local maps.”
“Captain, that’s very kind of you. We contacted you to discuss the local situation. We’ve been fighting the Cartel for two weeks, they have thousands of armed men and heavy weapons. I put out a call for all available militias. I didn’t expect the US Military to respond. I’m overjoyed to see you here. Did you bring any heavy assets?”
“We’re all Special Operations Infantry, there are five heavy tank platoons in transit. I’ve also been given the frequencies to call for air support from an Air Force Reserve unit.”
“Captain, I think you’re going to need all of them and maybe more. The Cartel is dug in on the other side of the Mississippi. They’ve stopped us cold the previous couple of weeks. I don’t have the heavy weapons available for our troops to dislodge them.”
“Can you show me on the map where they’re dug in?”
“Yes. I’ll mark their positions for you.”
Captain Black looks at the map, I see the problem, they’ve picked an almost perfect defensive location. Their position blocks anyone from crossing the river. They hold all of the bridge crossings within two hundred miles.”
“I’m happy to see the Army has some sharp officers.”
“General, I’m not sure five platoons of tanks is going to dislodge them. I suggest we call for an air strike to soften this group up.”
“What kind of aircraft can you call?”
“I have codes to a squadron of F16s and A10s. I’m going to call for the A10s, they have longer loiter times and are better armored from ground fire.”
“Good choice. Their heavy cannon should be able to dig the Cartel out of their positions.”
Sir, before I call in the air strike, I’d like to know some details, how did you become a general in the militia, why are you fighting here and not the military, what is the Cartel doing here, everything you can tell me.”
“Captain, since the Cartel is sitting on the other side of the river and us on this side. I think we have the time to answer your questions.”
“Sir, thank you.”
@@@@@
Jay looks around the small table,
“Major, how long have you been fighting the Cartel and what in hell are they doing this far north?”
“The Cartel has decided not to bother growing and processing their product in Mexico or Colombia. They’ve been attacking farmland throughout the South, capturing the people, enslaving them to work the fields growing their product. They process it here and sell it here.”
“How the hell are they selling drugs if our money is worthless? How are people paying for them?”
“Gold, silver, jewelry, hell, even silverware that’s real silver. The Cartel melts it all down into bars which they cart south to El Chapo’s fortified compound.”
“Shit. No wonder there’s a food shortage. The land that used to grow food is being used to grow drugs. Why haven’t towns fought to stop the Cartel?”
“The Cartel simply overpowers the towns, they outnumber and outgun them. The Cartel likes to sneak into the towns at night to kidnap the women who they use as hostages to get the townspeople to do their bidding. You’re right in your assessment about the lack of food, that’s the problem in a nutshell. General Arthur discovered they crossed the southern border in force and have been fighting militias and armed citizens as they conquer the land from New Mexico to Nashville. There’s currently a large battle going on along the Mississippi River. If the Cartel controls the river, they’ll have cut the country in half. The Cartel is dug in on the west side, we’re on the east side, it’s been a stalemate for the past couple of weeks.”
Sergeant Johnson nods, “That matches the orders Captain Black received. He was ordered to move his troops from here to the Mississippi. His orders didn’t say anything about any militias. I hope we’ll be able to work together to break the Cartel’s back.”
“Sarge, I hope he has a lot of heavy weapons and artillery, we’re going to need them to dislodge the Cartel from their fortified positions along the river. General Arthur will most likely meet your Captain before he reaches the river. He won’t want your Captain to be chopped to ribbons without knowing what hit him.”
“Sir, Captain Black won’t get caught flat-footed, he’s not an ordinary officer. He’s SF, we served together all over the world. I swear the man can smell a trap a mile away.”
“For his sake, I hope so. Jay, tell me about this shelter. I’m very intrigued by it. How large is it? How do you handle power, water and store enough supplies for everyone?”
“Would you like a tour?”
“Yes, I’d like that very much.”
“If you don’t mind, I’m not one hundred percent yet, I’m going to ask John, who is a retired US Marine Captain, excuse me, he always reminds me, there are no ex-Marines, or retired Marines, once a Marine, always a Marine. He’s head of our security. He’ll give you the fifty cent tour. We’ll meet back here in an hour?”
“Thank you. I very much appreciate it.”
“John, if you don’t mind. Tony and I are going to stay here. We have some things to catch up on.”
“Jay, happy to. Major, if you’ll follow me. One thing I need to warn you about right away is the internal walls are very thin, everyone hears everything. Due to the construction, voices have a tendency to echo. The design focus was on the core construction; the internal space was almost an afterthought.”
“Okay, that explains why you’re whispering.”
“Yes, down here everyone knows everyone’s business. It wasn’t planned that way and we haven’t had the time to find the cause and buffer the echoes.”
Whispering, Major Walker, says, “Captain, I understand. Please lead on.”
John leads the three militia officers on a tour of the shelter. When they reach the rear section, Major Walker stops, he looks at the walls and the basic construction, he taps John on the shoulder to ask him.
“Why is this section so much different from the rest of your shelter? This section has rounded walls, the area we were just in was square, were they built at different times?”
“This wasn’t part of the original design. Tony approached Jay about joining the shelter, I came with Tony. The shelter was already under construction and almost completed. They couldn’t find enough materials in the time available to expand the shelter. Tony located some prefab shelters on the west coast. He paid to have them shipped here. When they arrived, the construction crew mated the prefabs and the original design together. Did you notice the blast doors between the sections? They were added when the second section was added.”
“How many people live down here?”
“None of us want to live here. We started with forty. The shelter is not our real home. This is our get out of jail card. We live in the houses you saw along the farm’s perimeter. One group of us lives along the front, the rest live on the rear forty where those of us who came with Tony set up camp. The large castle is Jay's. It’s also part of our defense network.”
“I saw it. We didn’t enter any of your homes out of fear they were booby-trapped.”
“Good decision, they are.” John thought that little white lie can go a long way to protecting what’s ours.
“My gut told me anyone who built a castle wasn’t going to leave it undefended.”
“You’re right about that.”
“Did you mine the entire farm?”
“Let’s just say, you don’t want to go wandering around in the dark. You could get seriously hurt.”
Where does your power and water come from?”
“It’s magic. Doesn’t water come out when you turn the faucet? Electricity from the outlets?”
